How Long Will Hybrid Car Batteries Last?

If you old an older Prius, you might be nearing the end of its battery's useful life.

I have a second-generation Prius that's still working as advertised, and I love it, but I'm wondering when I should start worrying about replacing the battery pack.

All batteries wear out over time, but several factors influence when that happensbattery chemistry, the number of charge and discharge cycles, temperature extremes, even humidity. Your Prius carries a 10-year, 150,000-mile warranty on the hybrid battery. You'll notice two things when it's time for a new power pack: The engine will run almost constantly, even under light acceleration, and your fuel economy will drop off significantly. The good news is the car will still run with a bum battery, but a new one should keep your car running like new for years. Retail price for a new hybrid battery is $2589; with labor, it should be less than $3500 total. You may have to pay to dispose of the old battery too. It's a big hit to the wallet for a single repair, but still cheaper than a new car.